ANNUAL REPORT ON THE

G.—No. 14,

6

At Opotiki, operations had been commenced for the erection of a stockade and two blockhouses but owing to the very swampy nature of the bush where the timber had to be prepared, the work had to be discontinued for the present, and road works gone on with instead. Citil Duties. Steps taken for the Prevention of Grime. —One constable at Tauranga and one at Opotiki have done police duty during the year. One constable at Tauranga told off nightly to assist the town policemen if required. Attending Civil Courts. —One constable was detailed as Clerk to the Resident Magistrate at Tauranga, on the 25th January, 1872, and has continued at that duty since. One Ist class sergeant acts as Clerk to the Resident Magistrate at Opotiki. Statistics.—The Agricultural Statistics for the East Coast District were collected by men of the force, to the entire satisfaction of the Superintendent Collector. Public and Useful Works. Nature and Extent of Road Works. —The Cameron Road, part of the main trunk road from Tauranga to Taupo, has been made and continued 31 chains, and, with the addition of other parts of road about the township, make a total 58^- chains ; the width is 30 feet; and the area of formation 12,269 square yards. Cuttings on it 1,032 cubic yards. At "Whakatane, repairing the road from that station to Ohopi, a distance of three miles. At Opotiki 551 yards of road formation 55 feet wide, tabling 10 feet with a fall of 1 foot in G, footpaths 12 feet wide, and 200 yards gravelled, 295 yards of draining done in settlement, size of drain 2| X2s ; 30 yards of old culverting 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep opened up, and cleared of timber, &c, and refilled with material which had to be carted from a considerable distance. Building Bridges and Culverts. —At Opotiki three small bridges and two culverts made, also two bridges and one culvert repaired, for which the timber had to be brought from a bush three miles distant. Building Rouses and Stables.— At Tauranga, a barrack room 70 feet by 20 feet, with verandah 70 feet by 6 feet; 17 feet of this building has been partitioned off as a room for non-commissioned officers. This piece of work is not completely finished, but sufficiently so as to enable the men to occupy it. A very good hut has been built at Whakatane. A stable 25 feet by 14 feet has been erected at Opotiki, for which the material had to be brought a distance of three miles. Fencing Paddoclcs and laying down in Grass. —360 yards banking and ditching, and 350 yards of ti-tree scrub fencing, erected around Government paddock at Opotiki. Fencing and laying down in grass a paddock of about three acres at Whakatane. Remarks. The general conduct of the Force in the district during the past twelve months has been exemplary. Transfers have been effected with the Taupo District for the whole of the men in this, with the exception of those who had formerly served there, and a few others whose services were required in the district. All went through a course of musketry instruction in the district; and although it occupied a great deal of time, to the prevention of other works, I am confident that if those men were called upon to act in the field, the result of such a course of training would become very apparent. _ The Natives in the district are peaceably disposed and settling down to agricultural pursuits. A considerable number have been employed on road works leading into the interior. I have, &c, J. M. Roberts, Inspector A.C., The Commissioner, A.C. Force, Wellington. Commanding Tauranga District.

Enclosure 3 in No. 1. Inspector Scannell to the Commissioner, Armed Constabulary Force. Sir,— Armed Constabulary Office, Taupo District, Opepe, 31st May, 1872. In compliance with instructions contained in Circular No. 89, dated sth April, 1872, I have the honor to forward for your information the following report of the duties performed by the Armed Constabulary Force in the Taupo District, from the Ist July, 1871, to 31st May, 1872, inclusive :— Militaet Duties. Average Strength of Officers and Men. —The average strength of the Armed Constabulary Force in the district was 1 Inspector, 4 Sub-Inspectors, 1 Assistant-Surgeon, 1 Sergeant-Major, 11 first-class Sergeants, 9 second-class Sergeants, 14 mounted and 100 foot Constables. Nature of Parades mi Brills.— lnspection parades in marching order (weather permitting), and Divine Service at each post on Sundays. Inspection of saddlery and mounted men's accoutrements on Thursdays by officers in charge of posts. Monthly inspection by the Officer Commanding District. Drill with arms and accoutrements in squad, company, and skirmishing drill, and rifle exercises, at each post once a week. The regulation annual course of instruction in musketry was commenced on the 19th September, 1871, and completed on the 20th April, 1872, every available man in the district having been put through the course. Operations in the Field.—The force in this district have not been engaged in any field operations during the past year, except such movements as are shown under the next heading. Patrolling and Scouting.—On the sth October, a detachment of one sub-inspector and twenty men from Opepe and Tapuaeharuru proceeded to the Arawhata, on the Rangiteiki River ; one sub-